Of course, for Latin American fans, baseball doesn't take the winter off. The Dominican Republic just turned in a stellar performance in the Caribbean Series, winning a tournament that showcased a number of impressive young Major League prospects. It's a good bet that a few of those prospects will soon take their place among the large number of superstar Latin American Major League Baseball players.
In that spirit, here's a look at what to expect from some of the top Latin American baseball players, including perennial All-Stars, prospects on the rise, and veterans on the comeback trail, for the upcoming 2010 Major League Baseball season.
ROOKIES TO WATCH
Aroldis Chapman, LHP Cincinnati Reds The off-season bidding war for the 21-year-old (he'll turn 22 before the season) Cuban defector and World Baseball Classic standout Aroldis Chapman ended in the southpaw fireballer signing a six-year $30.25 million deal with the Reds. He will be in the mix for the fifth spot in the Reds rotation during Spring Training, but speculation is that his live but raw arm --his fastball has been clocked at 102 MPH-- and youthful inexperience will see him begin the season at Triple-A Louisville. However, if the Reds find themselves languishing through April and May, chances are that Chapman will be an early call-up. Much of Chapman's success, and perhaps the Reds, by extension, will depend on his ability to develop his changeup and work on controlling that blistering fastball.
Un prospecto es lo que las organizaciones del béisbol mayor definen como un talento con oportunidad grande de llegar y brillar en Grandes Ligas. En más del 50 por ciento de los casos, los peloteros ubicados en el tope de la lista logran hacer el grado pero sólo unos pocos se convierten en estelares. Como toda regla, hay excepciones. Ha habido prospectos que nunca llegaron y así mismo los que jamás aparecieron en el radar y terminaron con logros considerables.
A continuación mostraremos el ranking de los mejores prospectos latinoamericanos según Fanhouse. El primer número que verán en el listado es el puesto en el que Fanhouse los ubica con respecto a su lista de los mejores 100 prospectos de las Mayores, mientras que el segundo número es su puesto entre los nacidos en Latinoamérica. En el listado se encuentran siete dominicanos, seis venezolanos, dos cubanos y un colombiano."Si tomo todos los días es por culpa de una mujer... ¡Y me duele que nunca he tenido la oportunidad de agradecérselo!"... TRAPICHITO.-
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Hoy es Día del Correo. Gracias a quienes me leen y me escriben. Por favor, con las preguntas manden nombre, apellido, ciudad donde están, y el número telefónico. En caso contrario, no puedo contestarles. Tampoco me es posible escribirles por internet, solo a través de la columna. Lo siento mucho. Gracias una vez más.
José C. Bustamante B. de Margarita, pregunta: "¿Cuáles son los cuatro equipos más ganadores de Series Mundiales después de los Yankees... Y ha habido algún bigleaguer que se deje pegar pelotazos para recibir la base por bolas?"
El béisbol en el 2009
Philadelphia Phillies' Cliff Lee jogs through the outfield during baseball practice, Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, in Philadelphia. The Phillies face the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley warms-up before taking batting practice, Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, in Philadelphia. The Phillies face the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
**ALTERNATE CROP**The Uni-President Lions players celebrate after winning the CPBL, Chinese Professional Baseball League, against the Brother Elephants, 5-2, in Tainan, central Taiwan, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. Taiwan authorities are investigating whether Taiwanese baseball players accepted bribes to fix games, a prosecutor said Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 in the latest blow to the integrity of the sport on this baseball-loving island. (AP Photo) ** TAIWAN OUT **
AP
The Uni-President Lions players celebrate after winning the CPBL, Chinese Professional Baseball League, against the Brother Elephants, 5-2, in Tainan, central Taiwan, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. Taiwan authorities are investigating whether Taiwanese baseball players accepted bribes to fix games, a prosecutor said Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 in the latest blow to the integrity of the sport on this baseball-loving island. (AP Photo) ** TAIWAN OUT **
AP
**ALTERNATE CROP**The Uni-President Lions players celebrate after winning the CPBL, Chinese Professional Baseball League, against the Brother Elephants, 5-2, in Tainan, central Taiwan, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. Taiwan authorities are investigating whether Taiwanese baseball players accepted bribes to fix games, a prosecutor said Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 in the latest blow to the integrity of the sport on this baseball-loving island. (AP Photo) ** TAIWAN OUT **
AP
LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 26: Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux lines up his putt during the 2009 Maddux Harmon Celebrity Invitational at the Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club October 26, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event, hosted by former Major League Baseball pitcher Greg Maddux and golf instructor Butch Harmon, benefits charities supported by The Maddux Foundation. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Maddux
Getty Images
LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 26: Golf instructor Butch Harmon watches his tee shot during the 2009 Maddux Harmon Celebrity Invitational at the Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club October 26, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event, hosted by Harmon and former Major League Baseball pitcher Greg Maddux, benefits charities supported by The Maddux Foundation. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Butch Harmon
Getty Images
LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 26: Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux lines up his putt during the 2009 Maddux Harmon Celebrity Invitational at the Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club October 26, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event, hosted by former Major League Baseball pitcher Greg Maddux and golf instructor Butch Harmon, benefits charities supported by The Maddux Foundation. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Maddux
Getty Images
LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 26: Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux hhits onto the green during the 2009 Maddux Harmon Celebrity Invitational at the Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club October 26, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event, hosted by former Major League Baseball pitcher Greg Maddux and golf instructor Butch Harmon, benefits charities supported by The Maddux Foundation. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Maddux
Getty Images
LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 26: Golf instructor Butch Harmon watches his tee shot during the 2009 Maddux Harmon Celebrity Invitational at the Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club October 26, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event, hosted by Harmon and former Major League Baseball pitcher Greg Maddux, benefits charities supported by The Maddux Foundation. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Butch Harmon
Getty Images
Gabriela Escobar faces many challenges. Gabriela Escobar is a victim of rejection and human mistakes. Gabriela Escobar is not even close to beginning to understand the differences between right and wrong and yet she's touched by adversity. Gabriela Escobar is in the middle of a situation among adults, but luckily she has no idea of what's surrounding her. Gabriela Escobar is not even one year old. Leury Escobar is Gabriela's mother. This young lady lives in Panamá and is the daughter of Sandra Taveras and Omar Moreno who was a bigleaguer from 1975 to 1986, playing his best years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, stealing 96 bases in 1980 and winning the World Series in 1979. He was part of that magical Pirates team known as 'The Family'.
Ironically, that same word "family" has been both torture and peace for Leury, who told Fanáticos.com her story from her parents' home in Panama City. She talked about everything that has happened to her since first meeting Alcides Escobar, the young baseball prospect who's highly touted as the shortstop of the future by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Eso lo sabemos perfectamente, porque es de lo que más nos recalcan nuestros profesores. Somos cuidadosos en cuanto material periodístico trabajamos.
Pero somos responsables de lograr justicia. Somos la voz de quienes no tienen voz.
Por eso es ridícula e insoportable la actitud de un tal Paul Kinzer, quien dice ser abogado del shortstop venezolano de los Cerveceros de Milwaukee y de los Cardenales de Lara Alcides Escobar.
Reportaje Especial.- Gabriela Escobar tiene más de un problema. Gabriela Escobar es víctima aparente del rechazo y la equivocación humana. Gabriela Escobar no está todavía ni cerca de comenzar a entender las diferencias entre lo bueno y lo malo y aún así, es rozada por la adversidad. Gabriela Escobar es el centro de una situación entre adultos, pero afortunadamente no tiene idea de lo que pasa a su alrededor. Gabriela Escobar aún no cumple un año de edad. Leury Escobar es la madre de Gabriela. La joven vive en Panamá y es la hija de Sandra Taveras y Omar Moreno. Si aún este último nombre no le mueve la memoria al aficionado del beisbol, habría que recordar a Moreno como aquel espigado jardinero que llegó a robar 96 bases y brilló con los Piratas de Pittsburgh, club con el cual ganó la Serie Mundial de 1979 imbuido en un mágico conjunto que se identificaba como 'La Familia'.
Irónicamente, ese concepto: "familia", es al mismo tiempo la paz y la tortura para Leury, quien contó desde su casa en Panamá y en exclusiva para Fanaticos.com, todo lo que le ha pasado desde que conoció a Alcides Escobar. Se asoma el tinte irónico una vez más, sí, porque Escobar aspira hacer su vida al igual que Omar Moreno, entre las rayas de cal de un campo de pelota. El venezolano es visto como el campocorto del futuro por los Cerveceros de Milwaukee y considerado uno de los mejores talentos noveles de las Mayores.
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